AN: I'm supposed to be working. I also have plans to write another chapter to a story that is already in the works. But this came into my head, and it won't go away. So here goes nothing...
[I don't own Castle]
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Guilt. That's what she felt as she walked towards the swings. How badly had she screwed up this time? And there was uncertainty. Had she made the right decision? What would he think? What would he say?
Annoyance. That's what came next. She had a speech planned, but he wouldn't let her talk. Not yet, anyway. He wanted to have his say first. But that was okay. Understandable. She owed him that much. And more, if she was being honest with herself.
Desperation. He wanted more. She wasn't enough for him, for them. For the past few weeks, she'd wondered whether he was serious about her, but why? He'd done nothing but prove himself to her, time and time again. She'd told him once that she liked to keep one foot out the door in her relationships with men. She'd done that with him, too, hadn't she? She hadn't meant to. She hadn't wanted to. But there it was. He'd given her all of him, and she'd given back less. Could she even fix this? Would he let her? What had she done?
Despair. He was getting up now. He was about to walk away. And this time, he might not let her catch up. There was a little anger, too. Aren't you going to talk to me? Aren't you going to fight for us? But despair was winning out. She needed him. So badly, she needed him. She had to tell him that, now. She had to tell him, before he was gone.
And then nothing. For a full minute, or so it seemed, she felt...nothing, as her mind scrambled to translate the scene. He hadn't left. He was still here. And not just here, but in front of her. On one knee. With a ring. With a whoosh came confusion. What had he said? And a little awe. And then, suddenly, a flood of emotion swept through her.
Love. She so loved this man. Relief. She hadn't missed her chance, after all. Hope. She could see their future, together. A future that was better, happier, more solid than anything she had ever dared to contemplate. And as she looked up, she could see that same hope and love trying to reach through to her from the depths of his serious, terrified eyes. She started to smile, and she cried. Because she loved him, and he loved her, and nothing else had ever felt so right. And then he smiled at her. Just a little bit. And she felt it all fall into place.
Peace.